Swiss Review 5/2020

Swiss Review / September 2020 / No.5 19 Taking teens to the screens According to Swiss owners and distributors, teen- agers have abandoned the cinema. Certainly, the children’s cinema club, “la Lanterne magique”, which has 20,000 members in Switzerland, helps those aged between 6 and 12 years to discover the seventh art, but does this mean that they will grow into fans of the cinema itself? The answer is no. “Cultural autonomy develops between 15 and 20 years old. It is therefore necessary to offer some- thing to this age group,” explains Ilan Vallotton, director of “la Lanterne magique”. The association and other industry players have therefore developed the #ciné concept, to entice 14-18 year olds to reinvest in film and become regular cinema-goers. Currently present in eight towns throughout the country, the project entrusts the organisation of cinematic events destined for teens to groups of adolescents of the same age. Once a month, they take over a cinema in their town to present a preview of a film of their choosing. “The idea is to position the cinema as a place where adolescents can take control,” ex- plains Ilan Vallotton. (KR) RECOMMENDATION The Divine Order Petra Volpe (CH, 2017). It is 1971. Nora lives with her husband and two sons in a quiet Swiss village. When she begins to petition for women’s suffrage, this has consequences in her village and in her own fam ily. Stream ing: www.cinefile.ch Trailer: ogy.de/trailer-ordnung RECOMMENDATION Alpine Fire Fredi M. Murer (CH, 1985). Franzi, a deaf boy, and his sister Belli live on an isolated farm. Their father refuses to send Franzi to a home. Belli, who wanted to become a teacher, has to give her brother lessons. The two of them become inseparable and have a fateful close encounter. A moving piece of Swiss cinematic gold. Streaming: www .cinefile.ch Trailer: ogy.de/tra iler-hoehen feuer BarbaraMiller, highlights the need to preserve the idea of the cinema as a meeting place, but also a place for ex- changewith the audience, particularly during festivals. “Streaming is a real- ity and it is set to grow. But I hope that it won’t become too popular, as it would really detract from our sector,” she comments. Glimmer of hope The director fears the “Americanisa- tion” of the seventh art. To fight against this phenomenon, the Swiss cinema industry is placing its hopes in the amendment of Switzerland’s Film Act, currently under discussion in par- liament. Under the amendment, on- line providers would be required to invest at least 4 percent (gross) of their receipts in Swiss cinema, or else pay a corresponding tax. These platforms would also be required to ensure that European productions make up 30 percent of the films in their national catalogue. “This would make it possi- ble to guarantee the screening of in- dependent films, andprevent the dis- appearance of our culture. This type of measure alreadyworks verywell in other European countries,” concludes Miller. Local portals offering films through streaming: www.filmingo.ch/en/ www.artfilm.ch/en/artfilm-ch www .en.cinefile.ch/ *KATY ROMY IS AN EDITOR WITH SWISSINFO. WWW.SWISSINFO.CH